IPS, Justice Ministry gear for Shalit deal
Prison Service to publish list of Palestinian prisoners included in first stage of Hamas prisoner exchange on Sunday, as Justice Ministry's Amnesties Department starts working on presidential clemency petitions
The Israel Prison Service (IPS) will publish on Sunday the names of the 477 Palestinian prisoners scheduled to be released as part of the first stage of the Shalit deal.
The deal, which signifies the end of Gilad Shalit's Hamas captivity, was reached last Tuesday. The first prisoner swap and Shalit's return to Israel have been set for Tuesday.
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Once the IPS publishes the list, its officers will begin processing the prisoners slated for release ahead of their transfer to the Ktziot and HaSharon prisons.
The majority of Palestinian prisoners would be transferred to Ktziot, while all female prisoners would be transferred to HaSharon prison.
Once they arrive in the respective facilities, the prisoners will undergo physical examinations, their identities will be verified, and they will meet with Red Cross teams.
- For the full prisoners list by the IPS click here
The process was outlined by Prison Commissioner Aharon Franco. The IPS' Nachshon Prisoner Transports Unit will oversee the operation. The transfer is expected to take place under heavy guard.
Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry's Amnesties and Pardons Department has begun processing the cases pertaining to the Shalit deal. Later on Saturday, the ministry's team will be joined by a parallel presidential team that will prepare the necessary clemency petitions President Shimon Peres is required to sign under the law.
Peres is expected to add a letter to the cases' records, stating that his support of the deal and the clemencies he is granting as part of it do not indicate that he "forgets or forgives the crimes. On the contrary… these petitions are granted solely on the basis of the prisoner exchange deal."
The process is expected to be completed within 48 hours of the final prisoners list's publication.
Ronen Medzini contributed to this report
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